We Are So Close to Being a Really Great Side — Notes for Brentford Friday, 6th Apr 2018 11:15 by HarryFromBath HarryFromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game at Griffin Park by delving into their forums. “Just when you thought you can put your feet up for the rest of the season, the team puts in a top performance and comprehensively beats Bristol City”, “There’s still an outside possibility to make the play-offs”, “No one seems to want to take that final sixth spot. It’s still there to be grabbed.” Many Bees had given up on the play-offs after a run of two draws and two losses ahead of Monday’s game at Ashton Gate, but a comfortable 1-0 over the Robins has left them five points and five places off the top six. With a kind run of fixtures to come, there’s now the possibility of a late play-off dash. “It’s not over at all”, “If we win the next two matches, that game at Fulham becomes huge”, “The optimist in me says we have five winnable games against teams below us and a Fulham local derby. Anything goes”, “Beat Ipswich and Forest and I suspect everyone will be down at Craven Cottage.” “I love being in the Championship”, “I love people’s optimism but there is definitely too much ground to make up now. Another season at this level is still a magnificent achievement”, “It’s looking like a mid-table Championship finish. We can’t complain about that after most of the last 50 years.” “We have been punching above our weight for years based on how the club is structured”, “We’re great to watch and I would rather watch us than anyone else we have seen this year except perhaps Wolves”, “Our foundations are an astute manager and a transfer strategy that works really well.” Dean Smith“Dean Smith sets his teams up to play attractive exciting football. It’s more about being the sum of our parts than star players who come and go”, “I have never had so much confidence in a Brentford boss. He’s a perfect fit for us and likes it here”, “He’s a top manager and we’re lucky to have him.”  Dean SmithThe 47-year-old arrived from Walsall in November 2015 and recently signed a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2020. Bees appreciate how he has evolved the team’s stylish brand of football while working well with their financially constrained model of buying and selling players. “Dean fits our current structure and ambition very well. He is as good a fit as you are likely to get for the club”, “He’s someone who is good at a long-term project”, “With our way of operating money-wise, is there someone else out there who would get us promoted? Answers on a postcard please.” “Smith is not a magic wand type of manager. He takes time to turn things around”, “Continuing to develop and improve talented youngsters, playing attractive football while also selling players for ten times what we paid for them while strengthening our squad is a terrific long-term strategy.” “I don’t always agree with his substitutions and some strange team selections but no way would I want to swap him. I love his calmness and dignity”, “He’s very even-tempered. You never see him throwing tantrums on the touchline”, “His overall handling of the squad has been top notch.” Stylish Passing and Possession-Based Football“We have played the same passing, possession-based style now for four years and we usually have quite a lot more of the ball than our opponents”, “The fact that we out-pass and outplay most teams in this league is a fantastic achievement. We regularly look like one of the best teams in the league.” “It’s so clear where we struggle”, “So often we have most of the play but miss a cutting edge where it matters”, “We dominate possession and overdo it trying to score the perfect goal”, “Dominating possession, promising much and delivering nothing describes many of this season’s matches.” BentleyDalsgaardEganMephamBarbetMcEachreanJozefzoonMokotjoSawyersJudgeWatkins
The starting XI (above) at Ashton Gate had the familiar three-man midfield with Josh McEachran in the holding role in the absence of the suspended Ryan Woods, who will also miss Saturday’s game. Kamokelo Mokotjo plays a box-to-box role with Romaine Sawyers operating more as a playmaker. Centre-half Andreas Bjelland was absent with a calf injury and may be available for Saturday. John Egan is praised for his aerial ability and physicality but his lack of quality on the ball is ill-suited to playing out from the back. In contrast, the highly-rated Chris Mepham has blossomed this season. Daniel Bentley is broadly seen as a reliable keeper, while full-backs Henrik Dalsgaard, Yoann Barbet and Josh Clarke all add an attacking dimension out wide. Dalsgaard bursts forward well but his final ball is erratic. Clarke is seen as the paciest but has struggled when switched across to the left flank. Fans appreciate the team’s fluidity and neat interplay across midfield. “Playing with a midfield three makes us look a lot more effective”, “It’s interesting to see how wide our central midfielders go at times. Mokotjo on the left and Sawyers on the right have been hugging the touchline at times.” “We don’t make enough clever runs behind the defence, instead playing neat little triangles on the edge of the opposition box with little cutting edge”, “Our midfielders need to attack the box more to support our strikers and wingers”, “We lack the runs in behind to make all of our neat play count.” “Ollie Watkins and Florian Jozefzoon battle away on the flanks, but for all their pace and energy they simply don’t threaten defences enough given our weight of possession. Our front three often seem to operate more as individuals than as a collective unit. They lack the necessary craft and guile.” “We try to walk the ball in”, “I wish we could bury the ball in the net.” With Lasse Vibe departing in February to China, the only recognised striker in the squad is Neal Maupay who at best is seen as a work in progress and a good bench option. “Hopefully we will get a bloody striker in the summer.” “Please sort the striker situation out this summer”, “You realise how close this squad has been to being a play-off team. One in-form finisher might have meant another 10 points”, “We should do two hours of finishing practice every day until we convert a reasonable percentage of our chances.” Bristol City 0 — 1 Brentford“That was the most comprehensive 1-0 win I have ever seen”, “A dominant display, we closed it out well at the end. Bristol were dire and I have no clue how they are so high in the table”, “If ever there was a game to stay behind and applaud our players it was today. It was an emphatic win all round.” “Neal Maupay has just scored for us. That’s a turn-up for the books.” Brentford restricted their play-off-chasing hosts to two shots off target in a dominant display. Their winner came from substitute Maupay with 10 minutes remaining. Many felt their margin of victory should have been far greater. “I wished we were more clinical in the final third”, “Seven shots on target out of 27 isn’t too good”, “It was one-way traffic at Bristol City but the number of poor crosses or shots was unbelievable. I guess that is what is so frustrating, we’re that close to being a top team and it’s such fine margins”, BentleyClarkeEganMephamBarbetYennarisMokotjoSawyersJozefzoonWatkinsMaupay
Smith’s alterations in the second half (above) were interesting. Alan Judge and Josh McEachran were withdrawn after making first starts on the road back from injury. Clarke was pacier than Dalsgaard at right-back, while Watkins switched to his preferred left wing role with Maupay coming on up front. Brentford 1 — 1 Sheffield United“A cold wet afternoon and a drab game, littered with errors and misplaced passes. I felt very flat after the game and it felt more like a defeat. It was a lucky point against superior opposition”, “The conditions prevented us from playing neat football and Sheffield United adapted better using long balls”, Chris Basham opened the scoring for the Blades with a deflected shot on 55 minutes. Mepham equalised for the hosts 13 minutes later, but a clash retrieving the ball in the aftermath of Mepham’s leveller led to Brentford’s Woods and United keeper Jamal Blackman both being dismissed. “Why was Woods in such a rush to get the ball?”, “Woods may have touched the keeper’s face but it was nothing malicious”, “He didn’t do a lot apart from trying to get the ball back off their keeper. He was remarkably calm in the circumstances”, “His arms were swinging but it didn’t look like punches.” “Given the conditions it was a decent, entertaining game. We controlled most of it but they had the better chances”, “United had the physicality I crave in our players”, “We were so sloppy and made so many unforced errors. Passes to nobody or to opponents cannot be blamed on the conditions.” BentleyDalsgaardEganMephamClarkeWoodsJozefzoonMacLeodYennarisCanosMaupay
The starting line-up (above) for this Good Friday game was notable for having a different central trio to the team that began at Ashton Gate three days later. Lewis MacLeod was praised for linking play in midfield, but the visitors targeted right-footed Josh Clarke who had a difficult game at left-back. Brentford 1 — 1 Middlesbrough“Another game we should have won”, “A thoroughly entertaining game and we deserved more than a point from that”, “A winnable match in which we performed excellently has slipped away from us yet again”, “We had total control for most of that match but had seven out of 24 shots on target.” Adama Traore put the visitors ahead on 21 minutes, gliding into Brentford’s penalty area before firing home. A low shot from Lewis MacLeod on 34 minutes levelled the scores while Bees’ substitute Romaine Sawyers was dismissed for a second caution in second-half stoppage time. “It was the same old story, we dominated but couldn’t find the final touch. The football we played was fantastic”, “As much as we dominated that game, we created very few clear chances and were limited to long-range shots. Boro were very happy to sit deep and stop us playing around their box.” BentleyDalsgaardEganMephamClarkeWoodsJozefzoonMokotjoMacLeodWatkinsMaupay
“Traore was the real difference for Boro.” Bees felt that their starting line-up (above) had enough of a solid feel to counter Tony Pulis’s visiting team. MacLeod’s first goal after an injury-ravaged time at Griffin Park was warmly received in a game which was played on a bitterly cold St Patrick’s Day. Goalkeepers and Defenders“Daniel Bentley kept us in the Sheffield United game with some excellent saves.” The 24-year-old ex-Southend keeper “suits our preferred way of passing the ball out from the back”, “His kicking is very reliable but his decision-making, playing the ball to a marked team-mate, is risky given how we play.”  Huws scores past Bentley“Bentley is a brave keeper who isn’t afraid to come off his line”, “He’s outstanding on one-on-ones, closing down the attacker but making himself big”, ““He’s good at middle-distance kicks to full-backs on halfway. They are a perfect balance between kicking long and going short to the centre-backs.” “Henrik Dalsgaard is technically not at the same level as most of our players.” The 28-year-old right-back and Denmark international “is fine defensively but his crosses are dodgy, and I don’t know who his long passes from defence are aimed at”, “I want to like him but it’s proving to be a struggle.” “Dalsgaard has weird mental lapses where he throws a strop at himself for messing up and he does not re-join play quickly enough”, “He’s frustrating, flashes of brilliance but too many basic errors. For every skip past a full-back and cross, he gives the ball away needlessly and then beats himself up.” “Bristol hatched a plan to target Josh Clarke when he came on at right-back but his pace caused all sorts of problems in conjunction with Jozefzoon.” The 23-year-old youth product “has a great right foot and reassuring pace for a full-back”, “He can beat a man and play one-twos with his winger.” “If we’re up against a quick winger I would start Clarke”, “Most of his work fizzles out on the left side because of his lack of confidence in his left foot. Better full-backs always show him outside”, “He is one of our quickest players, but he can’t pass with his left foot and keeps turning on to his right.” “Yoann Barbet brings some much-needed left-footed balance to our defence.” The 24-year-old ex-Chamois Niortais man “is very strong in the tackle and makes important challenges. He has a perfect physique for a centre-half”, “He’s an unsung hero who delivers for the team and who gives his all.” “Barbet is solid enough defensively but a bit loose positionally”, “He has become more disciplined about when to go forwards, when to try the Hoddle-esque passes and when to play the ball simply”, “He has cut out the careless passes but he lets players get behind him when he’s caught up field.” “Andreas Bjelland has been integral to the defensive shape of the side.” The 29-year-old former FC Twente centre-half “has great vision and passing ability but he’s too slow and is regularly caught out for pace”, “He has been the perfect player to partner Mepham at this stage of his development.”  Tom Lawrence v Andreas Bjelland“Bjelland would be a top Premier League player with a yard more pace, he’s calmness personified.” He hasn’t featured since a calf injury picked up last month at Millwall. “When we create an attacking overload, he steps up to the holding midfield position to cover space between defence and attack.” “John Egan’s a good defender and a real threat at set pieces. I’m in no hurry to see him go.” The 25-year-old ex-Gillingham centre-back “is the weak link in our defence as he’s the least comfortable on the ball and the worst passer in the side. Our opponents are always happy to let him have the ball.” “Egan’s a decent defender at this level but his limitations are exposed by the way we play”, “He does his defensive work well but he frustrates me when he brings the ball out and goes for long cross-field passes which give it away. He needs to give the ball to our midfielders and let them do the work.” Chris Mepham“Chris Mepham is the best and most assured defender I have seen at Brentford.” The 20-year-old youth product “is so good at stepping out with the ball and he’s so calm and composed. His career is moving very fast. He is the best player to come through our ranks by some distance in my lifetime.”  Dominic Iorfa v Chris Mepham“Mepham reads the game so well and is not afraid to take a booking to stop an attack”, “He makes the right decisions every time, getting rid of the ball when necessary. He has the speed to cover for Egan’s mistakes. He times his challenges perfectly and plays football when the situation demands it.” Central Midfielders“Nico Yennaris works hard but his shocking distribution is his Achilles’ heel.” The 24-year-old former Arsenal youth midfielder or full-back “is being asked to do one of the hardest jobs on the pitch in our system, pressing high while still being a box-to-box player”, “He’s generally better without the ball.”  Nico Yennaris“Yennaris tidies up dangerous situations, pressing and getting in opponents’ faces”, “He snuffs out attacks with timely tackles, an unsung hero who stops opponents playing”, “We miss his energy and his ability to get forward and support the striker”, “He’s a very good communicator in a quiet side.” “Kamokelo Mokotjo is proving to be another shrewd investment.” The 27-year-old July acquisition from FC Twente “is becoming the successor to Jonathan Douglas. He does a lot of the unseen work, tidying up and moving the ball on with purpose. He helps our creative players work with the ball.” “Mokotjo really gets around and has a great knack of reading the game and knowing where to be. His ball retention and constant movement are assets”, “He’s technically tidy and neat in possession but he needs to be much stronger and impose himself as he can get muscled out of possession.” “I was absolutely delighted for Lewis Macleod scoring the goal against Boro after all he has been through.” The 23-year-old former Rangers man has had an injury-blighted time since arriving at Brentford in 2015 with hamstring and a serious knee injury convalescing him for long periods. “He has had it tough.” “I like the fact that Macleod’s first instinct when getting the ball on the edge of the box is to shoot. He influenced the Boro game by being further up the pitch”, “He linked the midfield and wingers and added an urgency, giving us a fantastic attacking impetus. He likes to play the ball on the surface.” “Josh McEachran is not as sound defensively as Ryan Woods but his passing is more incisive.” The 25-year-old ex-Chelsea man “sprays passes well and delivers them quickly with precise weight and accuracy”, “He looks great when under no pressure and is undoubtedly a great passer of the ball.” “McEachran scares the wits out of me defensively, he lacks Woods’s ability to retain the ball under pressure”, “He has to work on his defensive game but with the ball he’s perfect getting it moving in to fast attacks”, “He’s very slight and often will get pushed off the ball or make a feeble challenge.” Romaine Sawyers“Romaine was skipping around like a spring lamb at Bristol, picking out passes.” The 26-year-old ex-Walsall man “sees passes that not many others see at this level. He does a lot of work off the ball and has a swagger I just love”, “His work rate is phenomenal and his flicks and tricks are inventive.”  Leeds United's Alfonso Pedraza v Romaine Sawyers“Sawyers has improved the defensive side of his game with all the tackles he’s putting in, constantly winning the ball back”, “It’s an absolute joy watching him running around. He’s always aware of who is around him and he is always eager to receive the ball with a creative idea of what to do with it.” Wingers and Wide Midfielders“What has happened to Sergi Canos? To say he’s a shadow of himself would be kind. He has been a waste of a short in the last few months.” The 21-year-old former Canary “has been a shadow of his former self, drifting in and out of games and charging around both selfishly and to no great effect”.  Sergi Canos“Canos’s ankle injuries took more out of him that we realised”, “He’s far too selfish and he needs to develop his teamwork”, “It’s more to do with him trying too hard and attempting to do too much. It has been a disaster of a season”, “Hopefully composure will come with confidence and experience.” “Alan Judge has looked increasingly sharp.” The 29-year-old ex-Blackburn Rovers man made his first start at Ashton Gate on Monday after suffering a broken leg at Portman Road in April 2016. “It is so deserved after all the hard work he put in with his rehabilitation. He looked lively and aggressive.”  Alan Judge“Bring on the Tractor Boys, I’m sure Judge has a special performance lined up for them”, “He looks to have lost a little bit of pace but that could be down to fitness”, “He made some nice runs at Bristol but he also took up some odd and unhelpful positions at times, leaving us with no outlet on the left.” “Florian Jozefzoon is our most threatening player.” The 27-year-old ex-PSV Eindhoven man picked up an ankle injury at Ashton Gate and is a doubt on Saturday. “He always has the beating of his full back and terrifies defenders with his running. He would be in double figures with a bit more composure.” Ollie Watkins“Ollie runs his socks off and shows real pace.” The 22-year-old July purchase from Exeter “is a very good player and he’s quick and powerful but he needs fine tuning. His decision-making is shocking. He gets himself into good positions only to make terrible decisions and end up giving the ball away.”  Matt Palmer (Burton Albion) v Ollie Watkins“Watkins is still quite raw and it shows with his decision-making but he’s an exciting player to have in the team”, “He has the assets to be a centre-forward but he tends to drop deep looking for the ball and trying to break up play”, “He’s best suited and more dangerous in wider roles with more space.” Strikers“It is odd that Emiliano Marcondes isn’t being given a sniff given how prolific he was in the Danish league up to Christmas.” The 23-year-old January arrival from FC Nordsjaelland “has a good first touch and his passing is quick and unfussy. Next season will be his chance to show what he can do.” Neal Maupay“The Bristol game was more evidence that Maupay is a real threat off the bench but should not be starting.” The 21-year-old January purchase from St Etienne “is full of effort but his touch is poor. He is wasteful in front of goal and spends more of his time playing deeper and more as a playmaker.”  Neal Maupay“We have to be patient with Maupay. His hold-up play and control are improving but he snatches at presentable chances”, “He is starting to cotton on and is laying the ball off to colleagues”, “He runs around a lot but often without the cleverness to bring players in. His movement isn’t good enough.” Bees’ Views on ITFC and the Game“Ipswich are in a mess at the moment although they have done well away from home. Their fans reckon now that they know Mick is leaving at the end of the season they have given up protesting”, “Ipswich have a lot of injuries at the moment plus the McCarthy situation. I’ll go with 2-0 to us.” Bees have had little to say about the game itself or our current season, but their prediction threads have the vast majority forecasting a 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 home win with a small minority going for a 1-1 draw. They see this as an eminently winnable game with us having little now riding on our season. Bees’ Views on Luke Hyam“I see Luke Hyam come off the bench for Ipswich against Millwall. I have not forgotten the tackle and McCarthy’s comments after the game. I just hope the crowd remember on Saturday, and we have a strong referee for once which will allow Alan Judge to score a hat-trick against them.” “’Who are you going to maim this time, Mick?’ It seems reasonable to ask the question.” Brentford fans have not forgotten the April 2016 game which saw Alan Judge injured in a challenge with Luke Hyam and which saw their players provoke Hyam to the point where the Town man was red-carded. “We as fans really need to do our bit to show Luke Hyam how we really feel about his ‘non-red card’ tackle as described by Mick McCarthy at the time”, “It will be interesting to see how players react to him. Who is going to do the first reckless tackle in on him? Are we ‘too nice’ to do that, I surmise?” “Hyam will get flattened by someone”, “He was clearly taking issue with Woody’s slide tackle with the feet raised in the follow-through”, “I remember Alan McCormack high-fiving Ryan Woods at the time and their lot getting very irate”, “I intend to shout at that scummy little scrote until I can shout no more.” “Hyam deserved everything he got, he was wound as tight as a clock spring. He clearly had lost his head running around and lunging into challenges. McCarthy must have realised it was a red card waiting to happen”, “Hyam was a cowardly little **** who deserves everything he gets.” “Judge is not only a good technical player but he is also tenacious and loves the physical battle. The atmosphere will be electric and that should rub off on the whole team”, “Some stick will be flying in both McCarthy and Hyam's direction but let's do the business on the pitch and get the three points.” WebsitesThe busiest Brentford message board is the friendly and well-informed Griffin Park Grapevine.
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